Sex offender pleads guilty

Stephen Erwin, 23, most recently of 104 E. Seminary St., was convicted of three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The convictions are for incidents on May 26, June 9 and 23 when the victim was 15. According to court documents, the girl is now 16.

As part of Tuesday's plea deal, the state dismissed nine other counts of unlawful sexual conduct of a minor, which were in connection with incidents from July 7 through Oct. 27.

Erwin faces six to 18 months in prison on each of the fourth-degree felonies when he is sentenced May 28. He is expected to be classified as a Tier II sex offender, which requires him to register his address for 25 years.

A Huron County grand jury issued a secret indictment Dec. 13. Huron County sheriff's deputies arrested Erwin at his home Jan. 31 and booked him into the jail shortly afterward. He has been unable to post a $10,000 bond.

Erwin lived in Greenwich earlier and police had been looking for him ever since he moved.

Greenwich Police Officer Aaron Smith handled the investigation. He has said the girl's father came to the station after he looked at her Facebook page.

"Erwin was cooperative. He had confessed to all 12 counts," Smith earlier told the Reflector.